Smart Card Device and Method Used for Transmitting and Receiving Secure E-Mails

1. A smart card system for transmitting and receiving secure e-mails comprising: a smart card device reader adapted to be connected to a host having a client e-mail program for transmitting and/or receiving e-mails to and/or from an e-mail server; a smart card device received within the smart card device reader and comprising, a card body; and an integrated circuit carried by the card body and comprising a memory for storing a set of instructions relating to initiating and completing smart card transactions between the smart card device and a port of the host and for storing both private and public keys for an encryption algorithm, and a processor operative for communicating with the host via the smart card reader and operative for transferring e-mails to and/or from the client e-mail program and the e-mail server via the smart card device while decrypting and encrypting any transmitted and/or received e-mails within the smart card device, wherein said memory is operative for storing a smart card device IP address for an email server, and a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) outgoing parameter is set to the smart card device IP address such that the smart card device is operative as a gateway from a client email program.

2. A smart card system according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card device comprises a Universal Serial Bus smart card device (USD).

3. A smart card system according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card device comprises a universal serial bus token.

4. A smart card system according to claim 1 , and further comprising a password stored in said memory, wherein said smart card device is operative for transferring e-mails only after a correct password has been entered and matched to the password stored in memory.

5. A smart card system according to claim 1 , wherein said private key is configured within said smart card device at the time of issuance.

6. A smart card system according to claim 1 , wherein public keys are added and/or revoked based on user input.

7. A smart card system according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card device is operative for returning the results of any commands back from a remote Post Office Protocol (POP) server to a client e-mail program on the host.

8. An integrated circuit comprising: at least one memory for storing a set of instructions relating to initiating and completing smart card transactions between a smart card device and a communications port of a host and for storing both private and public keys for an encryption algorithm; and a processor connected to the at least one memory and operative for communicating with a host and operative for transferring e-mails to and/or from a client email program on a host and a user email server via the smart card device while decrypting and encrypting any transmitted and/or received e-mails within the smart card device, wherein said memory is operative for storing a smart card device IP address for an email server, and a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) outgoing parameter is set to the smart card device IP address such that the smart card device is operative as a gateway from a client email program.

9. An integrated circuit according to claim 8 , and further comprising a plurality of contact pads and operative for communicating with a universal serial bus port of a host.

10. An integrated circuit according to claim 8 , and further comprising a password stored in said memory, wherein said processor is operative for transferring e-mails only after a correct password has been entered by a user and matched to the password stored in said memory.

11. An integrated circuit according to claim 8 , wherein said private key is configured within said memory at the time of issuance to a user.

12. A smart card comprising: a card body; an integrated circuit carried by said card body and comprising at least one memory for storing a set of instructions relating to initiating and completing smart card transactions between a smart card and a communications port of a host and for storing both private and public keys for an encryption algorithm; and a processor connected to the at least one memory and operative for communicating with the host and operative for transferring e-mails to and/or from a client e-mail program and a user e-mail server via the smart card while decrypting and encrypting any transmitted and/or received e-mails within the smart card device, wherein said memory is operative for storing a smart card IP address for an email server, and a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) outgoing parameter is set to the smart card IP address such that the smart card device is operative as a gateway from a client email program.

13. A smart card system according to claim 12 , wherein said smart card further comprises a plurality of contact pads and operative for communicating with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port of a host.

14. A method of transmitting and receiving secure e-mails comprising the steps of: storing in a smart card device both private and public keys for an encryption algorithm; user interfacing the smart card device with a host having a client e-mail program; transferring e-mails to and/or from the client e-mail program and an e-mail server via the smart card device while decrypting and encrypting any transmitted and/or received e-mails within the smart card device; storing within a smart card device memory a smart card device IP address for an email server; and setting a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) outgoing parameter to the smart card device IP address such that the smart card device is operative as a gateway from a client email program.

15. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of storing the private and public keys in a Universal Serial Bus smart card device (USD).

16. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of storing the private and public keys on a smart card token.

17. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of transferring e-mails to and/or from the e-mail server using the internet.

18. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of inputting a password and matching the input password to a stored password in the smart card device, and when there is a match, enabling access through the smart card device to any encrypted e-mails on the email server.

19. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of inputting a password and matching the input password to a stored password in the smart card device, and when there is a match, enabling transmission through the smart card device of e-mails.

20. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of configuring the private key stored in the smart card device at the time when the smart card device is issued.

21. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of running a key manager on the host that is operable for adding/revoking public keys.

22. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of adding a new public key that is transmitted by a trusted user and/or revoking a public key.

23. A method according to claim 14 , and further comprising the step of returning from the smart card device any results of commands back from a remote Post Office Protocol server to the client e-mail program on the host.

24. A method according to claim 23 , and further comprising the step of performing description on the smart card device.